Bethany Christian vs. Northridge {Match Report}

What an exciting way to start the season! In what is typically an extremely difficult and frustrating match, our season opener saw a very confident Bethany Christian team fall to a talented Northridge squad 3-2. The JV was also closely contested, with Northridge pulling out the win as well.

In the varsity matchup, Bethany was able to take quick leads at two positions to put the pressure on Northride. Jonny Shenk jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first set, while #2 doubles pair Daniel Buschert and Mikey Kelly took a 4-1 lead. At the #1 positions, close games were the order as Northridge took early 3-2 leads at both positions.

We attacked with confidence at most positions in the early going, but as the matches wore on that energy and emotion began to fade a bit. Northridge doubles pair Blake Lukin and James Brandenburger were able to collect themselves at #2 doubles and rushed back to take the first set 6-4. #1 doubles Brantz Brandenburger and Taylor French also extended their lead with 2 solid games in a row to take a 5-2 lead, then finished off the first set 6-3. At #2 singles, extremely talented freshman Nick Myers of Northridge sealed his first set at 6-1.

After taking these sets, the Northridge teams grew in confidence and were able to finish off each of their matches in two sets. With these matches finished, Northridge had locked up the team win, leading 3-0. But they had not locked up every individual position.

Luke Hostetter lost the first set to Jeff George 6-3, and in the second set found himself down 5-4. With Jeff serving for the match, Luke broke to tie the match at 5-5. Then Jeff took a 6-5 lead, but it was short lived as Luke broke at love to send the match into a second set tiebreaker. Saving his best tennis of the match for the tiebreaker, Luke streaked to a 6-0 lead in the tiebreaker, relentless attacking Jeff's backhand side, and eventually closed out the tiebreaker at 7-2. The third set featured some of the best high school tennis available, highlighted by Luke's consistent yet biting groundstrokes. In what has to be a match highlight, Luke took a 5-2 lead with a stunning, sliding, down-the-line passing shot and a truly inspired shout of "c'mon!" while the crowd echoed his energy. Luke was able to finish off the third set at 6-4.

All the while Jonny Shenk battled strategically with Northridge's #3 singles player, Jeremy Runge. Jonny had lost to this same player last year of the JV, a heartbreaking tiebreak loss. Jonny avenged that loss with some beautifully consistent and determined tennis, forcing impatient errors from Runge in a perfect thrid set, which Jonny claimed 6-0.

So many good things to build on from this match, probably the most important being the confident and consistent start that all courts had, including the JV. It was good to see a Bethany team believe themselves to be competitors, to be focused, to move forward with their goals. This is the beginning of many good things to come.

Scores
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Bethany --- Score --- Northridge

#1S - Luke Hostetter (11) --- 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 --- Jeff George (11)
#2S - Jared Schwartzentuber (11) --- 1-6, 1-6 --- Nick Myers (9)
#3S - Jonny Shenk (11) --- 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 --- Jeremy Runge (10)
#1D - Johnny Kauffman (11)/Jeremy Thomas (11) --- 3-6, 4-6 --- Brantz Brandenburger (12)/Taylor French (12)
#2D - Daniel Buschert (11)/Mikey Kelly (10) --- 4-6, 3-6 --- Blake Lukin (11)/James Brandenburger (10)

#1S - Matt Amstutz (11) --- 2-8 --- Dylan Pieri (10)
#2S - Ben Mast (9) --- 8-6 --- Steven Briggs (11)
#3S - Russell Klassen (9) --- 7-9 --- David Long (9)
#4S - Harrison Beachey (10) --- 0-8 --- Dylan Pieri
#1D - Seth Krabill (9)/Kyle Miller (9) --- 4-8 --- Colin Chocola (11)/Jeff Eash (10)
#2D - Jared Christophel (11)/Will Troyer (11) --- 8-3 --- Tim Wagner (10)/Cole Wogoman (10)
#3D - Weston Troyer (12)/Austin Loucks (10) --- 2-8 --- Colin Chocola/Jeff Eash
#4D - Justin Gregor (11)/Jake Gerig (10) --- 2-6 --- Tim Wagner/Cole Wogoman